Fluid filling and draining apparatus for tanks



1965 H. N. SHAW ETAL 3,199,534

FLUID FILLING AND DRAINING APPARATUS FOR TANKS Filed Aug. 1, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTORS.

HARRY N. SHAW Aug. 10, 1965 H. N. SHAW ETAL 3,199,534

FLUID FILLING AND DRAINING APPARATUS FOR TANKS Filed Aug. 1, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 m I kmgn. LII l4 FIG. 3

I33 l2 304 -5;; 22 a 2m 206 m I37 2l2 gg E H s I!I IIIIIII I |Im| |4 E111 1 INVENTORS.

HARRY N. SHAW ROBERT POETHIG ATT'Y.

United States Patent 3,19,534 FLUID FILLING AND DRAINING APPARATUS; FGRTANKS Harry N. Shaw, Lake Forest, and Robert E. Poethig, Glenview, 111.,assignors to The Bastian-Blessing Company,

Chicago, ill., a corporation of Illinois Fiied Aug. 1, 1962, Ser. No.214,140 12 Claims. (Cl. 137-565) This invention relates in general to afitting and system for filling and withdrawing liquefied gas fromstorage tanks, and in particular to an improved, automatically operated,internally mounted, safety cut-off valve which when coupled with a highcapacity pump also provides a self-contained flow control system forfilling or draining a bulk storage tank with speed and safety.

The apparatus of this invention, although readily adaptable for use inconjunction with aircraft, ships and railroads, fluid transportationtanks, finds its greatest utility on fixed or mobile truck tanksutilized to store or deliver fluids to industry, as where liquefiedpetroleum gases or ammonia in bulk is handled under pressure.

Conventionally, bulk tanks are fitted with two major openings, a liquideduction outlet opening in communication with the tank at the bottomthereof and an inlet opening generally protected by a back flow checkvalve to prevent an escape of vapor in case of an accident or overnight.Mobile tanks can be quickly filled at a plant with extensive equipmentincluding a high volume pump and various valve arrangements for completesafety.

However, when a customers truck is to be filled from a mobile tank, roadweight is at a premium due to highway load limits and filling acustomers tank by gravity or a light pump guarded by an excess flowcheck valve takes four or five times as long to unload.

A break in a liquid filling hose, or a pump left running, or an outletcontrol valve left open can be extremely dangerous. Moreover, regardlessof whether the tank is mobile or stationary, the conventional equipmentfor safe flow control and high volume pumping operation of volatilefluids is intricate and costly, is frequently inadequate or ofteninoperative, and requires considerable time and personal attention tooperate. 7

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide animproved flow control device, which eliminates the shortcomings anddisadvantages of conventional equipment and if desired can be installedin one opening and safeguard both filling and emptying.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide an improved, lightunitary self-contained valve and pump apparatus secured to the transportwhich rapidly drains the fluid from the tank with full safety withoutreliance on external flow control devices.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved,automatically operated, internally mounted, safe ty cut-off valve toprevent the escape of liquid from the tank in which it is mounted if adisconnect or break occurs in the hose connection.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved, fullyautomatic, internally mounted flow valve coupled with a high capacitypump which automatically assumes the closed position until the pump isstarted, precluding over-the-road travel with an open valve.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved,automatically operated flow valve secured within a tank having a safetyoperating mechanism permitting the valve to be operated manually in anemergency.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved valveinternally mounted in a tank for fluid control having a visual indicatordenoting whether the valve is in the open or closed position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an imice j proved, fullyautomatic, internally mounted flow control valve coupled with a highcapacity pump and valve arrangement of minimized weight to be carriedbeneath a bulk tank whereby the tank may be filled or drained in aminimum of time and expense.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved flowcontrol valve having a high capacity straightaway design permittinguninterrupted fluid flow with a very low pressure drop.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tank fluiddraining and filling apparatus that is simple in design, rugged inconstruction, economical to manufacture, adaptable for mounting onexisting tanks or new construction, completely self-contained tocomplete a fluid filling or draining operation in the minimum of timeyet provides maximum safety controls and a failsafe operationalcharacteristic.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparentfrom the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of theinvention, throughout with references made to the accompanying drawings,in

which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partially sectioned side elevational viewillustrating the draining and filling apparatus of this invention andthe position of the component parts of the valve when in the closedposition;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary pictorial schematic illustrating the directconnection of the pump to the valve;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cut-away, partially sectioned view illustratingthe relationship of the component parts of the flow control valve uponactuation by the pump;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partially sectioned cut-away view illustratingthe relationship of the component parts of the flow control valve whenthe valve is in the-wide open position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary pictorial schematic illustrating aninterconnecting conduit arrangement between the pump and the valve ofthe apparatus whereby the apparatus may be utilized to fill the tankwithout employing the pump; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary pictorial schematic partially sectioned viewillustrating the relationship of an interconnecting conduit arrangementof remotely controlled filling and operation including a withdrawal pump'disposed remote from the tank protected by a valve embodying theinvention. 7

Referring now to FIG. 1, the fluid filling and draining system 10 ofthis invention comprises two primary components; a flow control safetyvalve 12 embodying the essential inventive subject matter detachablysecured to be disposed for safety reasons within the confines of a tank17 and a high capacity flow pump 14 mounted to the valve beneath thetank. 7

To mount the flow control safety valve 12, a connecting flange 16 issuitably secured, such as by Welding, to the lower portion of a tank 17.The flange 16 has a plurality of equally spaced threaded apertures 18formed in the lower surface of a cylindrical depending abutment 20 forreceipt of stud bolts which are used first to secure the valve and toanchor the pump or a pipe fitting in position to be in opencommunication with the valve compartment.

The valve 12 provides a housing or body 22, preferably of carbon ornickel steel capable of withstanding high pressures, having asubstantially straightaway or open configuration. The outer surface ofthe body 22 is substantially cylindrical and provides an outwardlyextending flange 24 integral therewith which serves as a securing memberin conjunction with the lower surface of the abutment 20 for retainingthe valve member within the tank. The flange 24 also provides openingstherethrough for receipt of a device 26 for manually operating the valveand visually indicating valve position and a flow passage control device28, to be explained.

The upper end of the body 22 is open and provides an internal taperedseat 39 for sealing engagement with a piston. The outer upper marginalsurface of the body is provided with threads 32 to receive the lower endof a piston cylinder.

A cylindrical open perforated strainer 34, preferably of metal, isreceived over the upper portion of the body 22 in telescoping fashionand seats on a shoulder formed in the outer surface of the body 22. Asreadily seen in FIG. 1, the strainer 34 has a thin cross section and issecured in position between the inside wall of the abutment 2% of thetank flange 16 and the outside of the body 22 and the lower portion of apiston cylinder. The strainer 34- extends upwardly into the tank asubstantial distance above the top of the body 22.

A piston cylinder 35 is secured within the strainer 34; the upper endbeing secured by screw members 38 passing through a portion of thestrainer and engaging the cylinder and the lower end of the cylinderthreadably engaging the threads 32 on the body 22. The cylinder 36provides a solid upper surface or wall 4% withv a depending cylindricalskirt 42 defining a cylinder space 43. The skirt 42 has a plurality oflarge apertures therethrough adjacent to the upper surface of the body22 defining the valve inlet as indicated at 44.

A piston-valve 46 is slidably received in sealed relationship within theskirt 42 of the cylinder 36. A seal ring 48 is received in a groove inthe side of the piston-valve to seal against the side wall of the skirt42 as the piston- Valve reciprocates. The lower outer edge of thepiston- Valve provides a tapered surface 50 complementary to the taperedseat 38 of the body 22. A shoulder 52 is formed in the lower surface ofthe piston-valve adjacent to the tapered surface St for receipt of aseal member 54.

A flow passage 55, concentrically formed through the piston-valve 46,provides an upper enlarged chamber 58 and a lower smaller chamber 60separated by partition wall 62. Partition wall 62 is integral with thepistonvalve and extends partially across the enlarged upper chamber 53.A pair of thin filter members 64 are disposed on top of the wall 62 andextend across the entire diameter of the upper chamber 53 to prevent thepossibility of foreign particles entering the upper chamber 58.

A compression spring 66 is disposed between the top wall 49 of thecylinder 36 and the piston-valve 46. One end of the spring 65 bearsagainst the top wall 49, being received and held in alignment by arecess 63 formed thereinand the other end of spring as is received inthe upper chamber 58 of the flow passage 56 and bears against thefilters d4 to urge the piston-valve 46 in a downwardly closed position.

A plate 70 is secured to the lower surface of the pistonvalve 46 by aplurality of bolt members 72. Seal 73 is located in a groove in thelower face of piston valve 46 and is compressed by plate 70 to preventlockage at this point. The periphery of the plate 79 provides aninwardly tapered surface 74 complementary to the tapered seat 30 on thebody 22 and when secured in position, the plate 76 engages a portion ofthe lower surface of seal member 54 permitting a portion of the seal toengage the seat 30. When the piston-valve 46 is in the downward closedposition, the tapered surface 59 on the bottom of the piston-valve andtaper 74 of the plate 70, as well as the exposed portion of the sealmember 54, will engage the seat 30 on the body 22. An aperture 76 isconcentrically formed through the plate 70 for alignment with the lowerchamber 6i of the flow passage 56 through the piston-valve 45. Theaperture 76 is of substantially less diameter than the lower chamber 66and the upper surface of the plate 70, adjacent the aperture 76,provides a seat for a control valve 78.

The control valve 78 is reciprocally received in the lower chamber 69.An upper end 84 of reduced diameter, of the valve 78 is reciprocallyguided in an aperture 82 formed through the partition wall. 62concentric with the lower chamber 6 3. A compression spring 84 isdisposed between the under surface of the partition wall 62 and ashoulder on the valve 78 to force the valve in a downwardly closedposition against the upper surface of the plate 74). A seal ring 36 isreceived in the lower St. face of the control valve '78 to sealinglyengage the upper surface of the plate 79 when the valve is in thedownward or closed position. The control valve '73 has a diametersubstantially less than the diameter of the lower chamber t; to permitfluid flow past the valve when the seal between the lower end of thevalve and the upper surface of plate 70 is broken. The valve 78 is heldin reciprocal alignment within the lower chamber 60 by the upper portion353 being received in the aperture 82 and is aligned at the lower end byan actuating piston 114 as will be explained.

A flow passage 88 is formed radially through the piston-valve 46interconnecting the lower chamber till of the flow passage 56 with thevalve inlet .4 in the cylindrical skirt 42 to permit fluid to flowbetween the space 43 and the tank 1'] whenever the piston-valve 46 ismoved to equalize pressure therebetween.

A web 96, an integral portion of the cast body 22, extends partiallyacross the open body adjacent the lower end thereof. An enlarged opening92 is formed through the web 93 adjacent to the extended end concentricwith the seat 3%? on the upper end of the body 22. The lower end of theopening 92 is provided with internal threads 94 and the upper endprovides an inwardly formed shoulder $6.

A piston cylinder 98 is threadedly received within the opening 92 insealed relationship. A combination piston seal and cylinder gasket 1% isdisposed between the upper surface of the cylinder 98 and the shoulder96 and a seal ring 102 is disposed in the outer side surface of thecylinder 93 to sealingly engage the inner surface of the opening 92. Agroove 10 i is formed in the outer surface of the cylinder, above theseal ring 152, having an aperture 1% therethrough interconnecting thegroove 164 with the inside of the cylinder 93. A pressure channel 168 isformed through the body 22, terminating in the groove tea at one end anda threaded aperture lit) in the side of the body 22 at the other end. Asmaller bleed passage 112 is formed in the web 99 interconnecting thepressure chamber 188 with the inside of the body 22.

An actuating piston 114 is slidably received within the cylinder 93 inloose relationship to permit fluid to flow between aperture 106 andthe'head space 115 within it and extends upwardly past the shoulder 96of the opening 92. The upper portion of the actuating piston 114provides a groove 116 in the outer surface thereof for receipt of a pin113 of the manual adjustment and visual indicating device 26 to beexplained. A valve stem 120, threadably secured at its upper end in thelower surface of the control valve 78, is universally secured to theupper end of the actuating piston 114 by any suitable means,

such as pin 122.

The manual adjustment and visual indicating device 26 is secured in theflange 24 about the outside of the body 22.. An aperture 124 is radiallyformed through the flange 24 and the body 22 and is provided withinternal threads 125 adjacent the inner end thereof. A collar 128 isthreadably received in the aperture 124 having a head portion 13%seating on the flange 24. A seal ring 132 is disposed in the outersurface of the collar in sealing relationship with the aperture 124.

A cylindrical shaft 133 operable manually by a removable wrench 137 isreceived within the collar 128 in rotating relationship between bearinginserts 134 and 136 disposed within the collar adjacent each endthereof. A seal ring 133 is disposed withinthe collar between the twobearing inserts in sealing relationship with the shaft 133. Shaft 133extends outwardly from the collar 123 and is provided with a slot 139across the end thereof as a visual indicator and as a securing means foradaption of a wrench to operate manually the flow valve 12. Anelliptical arm 140 is secured to the other end of the shaft within thebody 22 to which the pin 118 is secured at one end. Pin 118 supports aroller 142 for partial rotation within the groove 116 as the actuatingpiston 114 reciprocates.

A pump priming passage 144 is formed vertically in the wall of the body22 extending from the shoulder on which the cylinder 36 seats to a bleedpassage 146 extending at right angles thereto into the inner chambers ofthe body 22. The lower end of the cylindrical skirt 42 of the cylinder36 provides a contoured and ported inner surface to permit the fluidWithin the tank to pass through the priming passage 144 and the bleedpassage 146 into the body 22.

An aperture 148 is formed through the flange 24 and body 22concentrically aligned with the bleed passage 146 and intersecting theprime passage 144. The outer portion of the aperture 148 providesinternal threads 1511 to threadably receive a flow control shaft 152.The shaft 152 provides a tapered end 154 which may be adjusted manuallywithin the passage 146 to further restrict the flow of fluid from thetank into the body 22. A slot 156 is formed in the outer end of theshaft 152 for receipt of a driving member to facilitate adjustment ofthe shaft 152. A suitable closure cap 158 is threadably positioned inthe aperture 148 to seal off the aperture.

The lower end of the body 22 is completely open and serves as a valveoutlet 160 which is in direct communication with the inlet to the pump14 or interconnecting control valve arrangement disposed between thevalve 12 and the pump 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the valve 12 and the pump 14 are secured tothe flange 16 by a plurality of spaced bolt studs 162 and nuts 164. Oncethe flange 16 has been secured to the tank, the studs 162 are anchoredin the threaded apertures 18 in the abutment 20 of the flange 16. Agasket 166 is positioned over the upper portion of the valve 12 andpositioned against the upper surface of the flange 24 adjacent the body22. The upper portion of the valve 12 is positioned up into the tank,the studs 162 extending through apertures in the flange 24 until gasket166 engages the lower surface of the abutment 20. Nut members 164 arethen threadedly engaged on the bolt studs 162 and are drawn up againstthe under surface of the flange 24 forcing the valve 12 upwardly intothe tank and compressing gasket 166 to form a leakproof seal between thetank and valve. Second nut members 164 are threadably positioned on thebolt studs 162 and a thrust plate 168 is received over the studs andabout the lower outer surface of the body 22 and adjusted to positionthe lower surface flush with the bottom of the body 22. A gasket member170 is then positioned on the upper surface of a pump flange 172 and thepump 14 is positioned over the studs 162 until the flange 172 approachesthe lower edge of the body 22. Third nut members 164 are then threadablyengaged on the bolt studs 162 and are drawn tight compressing gasket176, and second nut members 164 are then drawn tight to secure thrustplate 168 to pump flange 172. The bolt studs 162 have their dependingends drilled as at 163 to a point substantially above the second members164 when assembled. By having the bolt studs 162 structurally weakened,the studs 162 will shear at a point without affecting the valve 12 ifthe apparatus should be subjected to an external damaging force.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a nipple 174 thread ably engages theaperture 119 in the side of the body 22 leading to the pressure channel168 to which is secured a cross connector 176. One outlet of the crossconnector 176 has a safety fuse plug 178 secured therein. Another outletof the cross connector 176 is plugged and the remaining outlet isprovided with a restricting orifice 6 bushing 180 to which a pumpdischarge pressure conduit 182 is secured.

A quick acting, lever operated valve 184 is mounted in the pumpdischarge pressure line 182 connected to the bushing 180. A pressureindicating device 186 and a Y- type strainer 188 are also preferablydisposed, in the pump discharge pressure line 182.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a description ofthe sequential operation of the valve will further clarify therelationship of the several component parts just described. Referringfirst to FIG. 1, the operating components of the valve 12 assume asteady state position when the valve is closed and the pump 14 is inoperative. In this position, the area 43 above the pistonvalve 46, thearea within the body 22, the valve outlet 160, the pump 14, and thespace 115 are under the pressure of the fluid within the tank throughbleed passages 88, 146 and 112 respectively. The flow passage 88radially extending through the piston-valve 46 permits the pressure toenter the lower chamber 60 of the flow passage 56 and into the area 43above the piston-valve 46. The prime passage 144 and interconnectingbleed passage 146 permits the fluid pressure in the tank to enter thearea within the body 22 and downwardly into the inlet of the pump 14,and the passage 112 balances pressures on both sides of the piston 114.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 and more particularly to FIG. 3, when thepump 14 is started, the pressure in channel 108 will increase to pumpdischarge pressure, enter the cylinder 98 and beneath theactuatingpiston 114- causing the actuating piston to move upwardly. This unseatsthe control valve 78 to permit the valve 78 to be moved upwardlyquickly. As the control valve 78 is unseated, the pressure above thepiston-valve 46 will be relieved past the valve 75 into the valve body.As the pressure above the piston-valve 46 and in the valve body 22decreases due to the opening of the valve 78 and the suction of the pump14, the actuating piston 114 will continue its upward movement until theupper portion of the valve 78 comes into solid physical contact with theunder surface of partition wall 62 at which time the pressure beneaththe actuating piston 114 will force the piston-valve 46 to open againstthe spring 66 and permit direct open flow from the tank into the body 22and directly to the inlet of the pump 14. In order to assist theoperation of the actuating piston 114 the area of the piston valve 46 atseal ring 48 is greater than the area created by seal member 54 and withthe deduction of the pressure in the chamber above piston-valve 46, tankpressure acting on the piston-valve 46 directly under seal ring 43 willincreasingly force the piston-valve 46 to open position supplementary tothe force of the actuating piston 114.

As the actuating piston rises the shaft 133 of the indieating mechanismwill be partially rotated due to the action of the pin 118 in contactwith the upper portion of the actuating piston 114. As the actuatingpiston 114 continues its upward travel to unseat the piston-valve 46,the indicating shaft 133 will be further rotated making a total rotationof wherein the slot 139 in the end of the shaft 133 may be easily viewedto determine the relative position of the piston-valve 46. Thepiston-valve 46 will remain in the wide open position until the pumpdischarge pressure decreases permitting the actuating piston 114 toreturn to its closed or downward position under the force exerted byspring 66.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, as the pump is shut off thedischarge pressure in the pressure channel 108 is bled 011 through bleedpassage 112 to the inside of the body 22 permitting the actuating piston114, through the combined action of the compression spring 66 above thepiston-valve 46 and the compression spring 84 disposed above the controlvalve 78 and the tank pressure admitted to the chamber abovepiston-valve 46 through port 88 to return the piston-valve 46 to thedownwardly closed position.

In addition to the normal operation of the valve by pump pressure, thevalve 12 incorporates automatic emergency shut-off and manual shut-offdevices. If a break should occur downstream of the pump 14 during thetransfer operation of the fiuid from the tank to a storage receptacle,the loss of downstream pump pressure will cause the valve to. close in amanner similar to that just described when the pump 14 is shut off.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the quick acting, lever operated valve134 in the pump discharge pressure line 182 is normally in the openposition so that the main valve 3.2 will open when the pump 14 startsand will close when the pump 14 stops. \Vhen the pump is running, thevalve 12 will close when the lever operated valve 184 is closed bycutting off the supply pressure from the pump and relieving throughbieed passage H2. A cable (not shown) such as one that could extendaround the tank for ready access anywhere may be attached to the leveron the quick acting valve 184 so that the valve 12 may be closed from aremote location or locations, if desired, in case of an emergency. Thecable should be located and protected so that it will be free to operateand readily accessible when an emergency arises. The valve 12 will notopen when the pump is started if the lever operated valve 1&4 is closed.

The fuse plug 178 in the cross connector 176 is provided to release thepressure to the actuating piston 114- and allow the valve 12 to close ifa fire occurs when the pump is running and the lever operated valve 184is open.

Additional control or actuating stations may be provided by connecting aback pressure check valve and conduit 189 to the normally plugged outletof the cross connector 176. This conduit will be pressurized similarlyto that of the pump discharge pressure line 182 and the function of anycontrols mounted in this extended line would be to vent the conduit toatmosphere thus releasing the pressure to the actuating piston 11d ofthe flow control valve 12. The additionally extended conduit from thenormally plugged outlet of the cross connector 176 may also be providedwith fuse plugs to release the fluid pressure in case of fire. Ifliquefied petroleum gas is the fluid being transferred, then dischargefrom additional venting controls or fuse plugs should be shielded toprevent any discharge from contacting any person working around thetank. The check valve prevents relieving of the pressure in the conduit189 during each normal operation so that the opening and closing timefunctions are minimized.

In addition to the automatic operations of the valve 12 and theoperation of safety features to close the valve 12, a manual operatingdevice 26 for'valve control is provided. A suitable wrench 137 isadapted to fit over the extended cylindrical shaft 133 and engage theindicating slot 139 whereby the shaft 133 may be manually rotated toeither open or close the control valve 78 and the piston-valve 46.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an arrangement is illustrated which furtherdemonstrates the versatility of the invention in that selective fillingor dispensing, .or both, involving one or more tanks in a bank ofstorage tanks can be controlled at a point remote from the tanks. Indoing this valves 12 and 12a on storage tanks 17 and 17a are connectedto a manifold 196 with a header 1% leading to a manifold 199interconnecting the inlets of a transport filling pump 14a and acylinder filling pump 14. The inlets of both pumps and of the tanks 17and 17a are connected also through manifold 1% to a railway tank carliquid unloading line 2 2 as controlled by valve 2292a. The outputs ofboth pumps are connected to a valve control header 2% through manualvalves 184a and 184d, respectively. The control conduits 182 and 182a ofthe valves 12 and 12a are each connected separately to the manifold 20%through manual valves 18% and 1840, respectively. The output of pump 14ais connected to a truck tank loading dock (not shown) equipped with avalve 12 (not shown) and is controlled by pump output pressure in line198a. The output of pump 14- is connected to a bottle tank fillingmanifold 2G4 to which valve 214 and cylinder 216 are connected forfilling purposes at the cylinder loading clock. I

With this, the tanks 17 and 17a can be filled from the line 2&2selectively through valves 12 and 12a opened manually or by actuation ofvalves 184a, 1841) and 1840, and 184d with one of the pumps running.While this is going on, bottle tanks or track tanks can be filled byoperation of pump 14 or pump 14a. The respective valves 12 or 12a do notdiscriminate as to the source of the control pressure and therefore thestorage tanks can be filled while the bottle filling pump is alsorunning.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 and more particularly to FIG. 5, analternate conduit arrangement is illustrated for filling the tankthrough the valve 12. Although connection can be made to compartment 169of the pump (FIG. 1) through an opening in the wall of the pump bodyitself, a flanged T-connector 236 is shown secured between the outlet ofthe valve 12 and the suction inlet of the pump 14 and a flanged strainer288 is connected to the other end of the T-connector 236. A conduit fromthe pumping facilities at the storage installation as from manifold 1%or 264 can be connected to the strainer 293. The pump 14 of FIG. 5 isnot utilized in this arrangement for filling the tank. The dischargepressure from the pumping facilities of the installation will actdirectly on the lower surface of the piston-valve 46 causing thepiston-valve 46 to open, thereby permitting uninterrupted flow of fluidfrom the storage installation to the tank. The piston-valve 46 willremain in an open position until the pump discharge pressure from thepumping facilities of the storage installation decreases and thecompression spring 56 and 84 and tank pressure forces the piston-valve46 downwardly to the closed position. It should also be noted in FIG. 5that the branch 21% is capped as at 212 and direct connection can bemade to this outlet for draining the tank in connection with manualcontrol of the shaft 133.

Referring now to FIG. 6, to those skilled in the art, it is now readilyapparent how the objects and advantages of the apparatus of thisinvention are attained.

The self-contained apparatus consisting of an automatic, quick acting,pressure actuated safety cut-oif valve and a high capacity fluid pumpmounted directly to the tank of a transport permits emptying of a tankin uniform shortened time increments and eliminates the necessity ofrelying on external inadequate pumping facilities and controls at thepoint of delivery. Further, the provision of the combination of a pumpand valve integral with the tank permits rapid emptying of a tank atpoints where pumping facilities are not available.

The internally mounted valve, when mounted at the lowermost point of atank, permits total drainage of the tank and maintains the prime of thepump at all times through the prime passage 144 as best seen in FIG. 1.

The valve is pressure actuated, requiring operation of the pump beforethe valve will open. It thereby assures definite valve closure duringover-the-road transportation. Remotely operated control valves in thevalve pressure actuating line as well as heat fuse plugs permit failsafe operation of the valve even when the pump is in opera tion. Thestraight away, wide open valve configuration further provides for highcapacity flow with virtually no pressure drop or flow turbulence throughthe valve.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from theinvention in its broader aspects. Accordingly, the aim in the appendedclaims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus secured to a tank for filling or draining fluidtherefrom comprising:

a flow control valve secured within a tank including a housing withinthe tank having openings into the tank at the bottom thereof and a valveseat below said openings, a valve element reciprocable in the housing toan open position enclosed bysaid housing,

means carried by said housing above said valve urging said valve toclosed position for closing said valve in the direction of flow ofliquid from the tank,

a pump directly supported from the tank against the valve housingoutside of the tank to transfer fluid between the tank and a reservoir,and

pressure responsive means actuated by the output pressure of the pumpfor opening said valve when educting fluid from said tank.

2. An apparatus for draining fluid from a tank storing liquid underpressure comprising in combination:

a tank having an opening in the wall thereof,

an automatic safety shut-off valve body secured to the tank in saidopening and having a valve seat and a cylinder in said tank of adiameter greater than the valve seat,

a valve in said valve body having a head cooperating with said valveseat and including a piston portion in said cylinder,

means for opening the valve including a passage interconnecting thecylinder and the valve head and a flow control valve in said passage,

a fluid pressure pump secured to the valve body with the pump inlet incommunication with same, and

means interconnecting the outlet of the pump with said control valve toopen same and to apply to the valve head a force greater than the forceof the pressure in the tank to urge said valve body to open position.

3. An apparatus secured to a tank for draining fluid therefromcomprising in combination:

a flange secured to the tank defining anopening therein,

an automatic safety shut-off valve received in said opening within thetank and secured to the flange with its outlet opening coaxial throughsaid opening, and

a fluid pressure pump secured directly to the flange with the inletthereof coaxial with and against the outlet opening of the valve insealed relationship therewith to transfer fluid from the tank.

4. In combination with an apparatus including a pump secured to a tankfor filling or draining fluid therefrom, a valve comprising:

a body having an upper end disposed Within the tank and a lower enddisposed Without the tank in communication with the pump,

a cylinder secured to the upper end of the body within the tankproviding a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough defining flowinlets to the body,

a piston-valve reciprocally retained within the cylinder to seal thebody from the inlets when in the closed position and movable to aposition above said apertures when in its open position,

an actuating piston disposed within said body,

a control valve received in said piston valve,

means interconnecting the actuating piston with the control valve, and

means interconnecting the pump with said body to transmit pump pressureto said actuating piston to eflect movement of said control valve andmove pistonvalve out of the path of fluid flow to permit fluid to flowwith full flow through the body to the pump.

5. In combination with an apparatus including a pump secured to a tankfor filling or draining fluid therefrom, a valve comprising:

a body having an upper end disposed within the tank defining a valveseat and a lower end disposed without the tank in communication with thepump,

a cylinder secured to the upper end of the body within 1% the tankproviding a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough defining flowinlets to the body,

a piston-valve reciprocally retained within the cylinder including apiston portion reciprocable above said apertures and a valve head belowthe apertures closing against said valve seat to seal the body from thetank when in the closed position,

, bias means and fluid tank pressure retaining said pistonvalve in saidclosed position,

conduit means for equalizing pressures on opposite sides of said pistonportion,

an actuating piston disposed within said body,

a control valve reciprocally received in said piston-valve to place saidcylinder, apertures and valve seat in communication with one anotherthrough said pistonvalve,

means interconnecting the actuating piston with the control valve, and

a pressure conduit interconnecting the pump outlet with said body totransmit pump pressure to said actuating piston to effect movement ofsaid control valve and piston-valve to their open positions and permitfluid to flow through the body and the pump.

6. A pressure flow control valve comprising:

a body having a mounting flange, an upper end disposed above the flangedefining a valve seat and a lower end disposed below the flange,

a piston guide cylinder secured to the upper end of the body andproviding a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough defining flowinlets to the body at its lower end above said valve seat,

a piston valve reciprocally retained within the piston guide cylinder insealed relationship therewith above said inlets to close against saidvalve seat,

a [compression spring disposed between said piston guide cylinder andsaid piston-valve urging the piston-valve to its closed position,

conduit means for balancing pressures on opposite sides of said sealed,relationship between the guide cylinder and the piston-valve, 1

an actuating piston disposed within said body,

a control valve reciprocally received in said piston-valve for balancingpressures on opposite sides of said valve seat for opening said valve,

a valve stem interconnecting the actuating piston with the controlvalve,

an indicating linkage extending through the body engaging said actuatingpiston, and

means for conducting pressure to said actuating piston to effectmovement of said control valve and pistonvalve for permitting fluid toflow through said valve seat of the body.

7. The combination called for in claim 6 includinga restricted flowconduit in said body bypassing said valve seat, and

a restricted flow conduit interconnecting said pressure conducting meansand said lower end of said body.

8. For use in combination with an apparatus including a pump secured toa tank for filling or draining liquefied gas therefrom,

a valve above the pump interconnecting the pump and tank and comprising:

a body having an open upper end disposed within the bottom of the tankand a lower end disposed outside of the tank in communication with theinlet of said pump, 1

closure means including a piston having a working area greater than saidvalve seat reciprocally disposed above the upper open end of the bodysealing said body from the fluid liquefied gas within the tank,

cylinder means in said tank reciprocably receiving said piston,

actuating means including pressure responsive means connected to theoutlet of said pump for actuating said piston,

a flow restricted passage interconnecting the tank with the body abovethe pump to maintain liquid prime of the pump,

a flow restricted conduit interconnecting said cylinder means and saidbody including a valve actuated by said pressure responsive means,

conduit means interconnecting the outlet of said pump with said pressureresponsive means to transmit pump pressure to said pressure responsivemeans to activate movement of said closure means and permit fluid toflow through the body and the pump, and

a flow restricting conduit interconnecting said conduit means and saidbody to deactivate said pressure responsive means and subject saidpiston to tank pressure for closing said valve.

9. The valve defined in claim 8 in which said actuating means furtherincludes:

a manually operated element having indicia means exposed externally forobservation to indicate the position of the closure means, and

removable handle means engaging the indicia means for operating saidactuating means.

10. For use in combination with an apparatus including a pump secured toa tank for filling or draining fluid therefrom,

a valve comprising:

a body having an upper open end defining a valve seat disposed withinthe tank, a cylinder space above it and a lower end disposed outside ofthe tank in communication with the inlet of the pump,

closure means cooperating with said valve seat reciprocally disposedabove the valve seat for sealing said body from the fluid within thetank and including a piston in said cylinder space for actuation bypressure in said tank to open said valve seat,

normally closed valve means to place said cylinder space incommunication with said body to vent said space for the pressure in thetank to actuate said piston, Y

actuating means disposed within said body including linkage engagingsaidnormally closed valve means, and

conduit means interconnecting the outlet of the pump with said actuatingmeans to transmit pump pressure to said actuating means and effectmovement of said valve means and closure means to permit fluid to flowthrough the valve seat, body and the pump.

The combination called for in claim it? including 1 2 a manuallyactuated indicator means connected to said actuating means for movementtherewith to operate same and indicate the position of said closuremeans.

12. For use in combination with an apparatus including a pump secured toa tank for filling or draining fluid therefrom,

a valve comprising:

a body having an upper open end defining a valve seat receivable withinthe tank with the lower end disposed outside the tank in communicationwith the p p,

closure means reciprocably disposed above the upper open end of the bodyto close against said valve seat and seal said body from the fluidwithin the tank,

actuating means for said closure means disposed within said body,

linkage means interconnecting the actuating means with the closuremeans,

a manually operable element connected to said actuating means forphysically opening said closure means and having indicia exposedexternally for observation to indicate the position of the closuremeans, pressure responsive means connected to the outlet of the pump foroperating said actuating means and manually operable element to movesaid closure means to open position and permit fluid to flow from thetank through the body and the inlet of the pump, and

removable handle means engaging the indicia for operating said linkagemeans to reciprocate said closure means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS M. CARY NELSON,Primary Examiner.

HERBERT L. MARTIN, Examiner.

3. AN APPARATUS SECURED TO A TANK FOR DRAINING FLUID THEREFROMCOMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A FLANGE SECURED TO THE TANK DEFINING ANOPENING THEREIN, AN AUTOMATIC SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVE RECEIVED IN SAIDOPENING WITHIN THE TANK AND SECURED TO THE FLANGE WITH ITS OUTLETOPENING COAXIAL THROUGH SAID OPENING, AND WITH THE INLET THEREOF COAXIALWITH AND AGAINST THE A FLUID PRESSURE PUMP SECURED DIRECTLY TO THEFLANGE